Downtown Montreal Summary

Pros

Housing some of the city's best museums (and known as the "museum district")

Various brand name and boutique shops on Rue Sainte-Catherine

The financial center of Montreal; skyscrapers and posh business eateries line the streets

Walkable underground tunnel ("Underground City) -- perfect during winter or on rainy days

Home to Chinatown, Montreal's largest Asian community

Diverse restaurants, from budget picks around the University, to high-end places around metro Square-Victoria

Cons

Winters are cold and snowy

Some traffic congestion

Packed with tourists during summer months

What It's Like

Downtown Montreal, a popular destination for business travelers and tourists alike, is the lifeblood of the city. With both the Saint Lawrence River and Monteregian Hills as backdrops, this area of Montreal offers stunning views, not to mention a fast-paced nightlife, some of the city's best museums, and tall skyscrapers. It's also the home to McGill University, founded in 1821 and referred to as "the Harvard of Canada."

Where To Stay

Downtown Montreal has a wide selection when it comes to hotels. For party-seekers, Rue Crescent and the surrounding streets -- which have some of the city’s best nightlife -- would be the best bet. Budget travelers may want to look around the McGill University campus, while families may prefer to be close to attractions like the Montreal Planetarium on Saint-Jacques oust, or the Underground City (accessible by the green and orange metro lines).